It is with great pleasure that I have accepted the challenge to lead the transition of the Annals of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology to its new title: Pathogens and Global Health (PGH). After more than 100 prestigious years of publication the journal is making this shift. First and foremost I want to thank all those friends and colleagues who serve on the editorial board for their invaluable contribution in shaping the scope and the editorial policy of PGH. Over the last few years the Annals of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology has published specialised papers dealing with observations arising from epidemiological studies. The new title reflects the shift of focus and the wish to address a broader audience.
Pathogens and Global Health is a peer review journal that also offers authors the opportunity to publish open-access papers. The journal publishes new ideas and reviews that translate biological, genetic, immunological and biochemical knowledge into treatment and control measures directed against microbial pathogens of global and international relevance. PGH aims to become a leading scientific journal providing a forum for scientific, ethical and political discussion among those who are involved in identifying and implementing innovative solutions for controlling and eradicating infectious diseases of global relevance. There will be particular emphasis on those diseases affecting the poorest regions of the world. For this purpose PGH has formed an editorial board of leading scientists that, together, bring a unique combination of managerial skills and scientific expertise in the fields of Immunology, Molecular Biology, Genomics, Public Health, Epidemiology and Mathematical Modelling.
To expedite the publication of high quality manuscripts PGH has a user-friendly online manuscript, tracking and peer review system. PGH will utilise a transparent peer review process designed to reduce delay from submission to publication while implementing a practice of accountability and fairness from authors, reviewers and editors. Manuscripts deemed suitable for publication by a member of the editorial board will be reviewed with the help of up to three independent experts. Our reviewers will assess the design, the presentation, the analysis and the interpretation of data and will provide prompt, detailed, constructive criticism to improve the science. We will avoid requesting additional experimental activities that go beyond the original scope of the work. Our editors will not only mediate the exchange of opinions and ideas between authors and reviewers, but also assume responsibility for the final decision. Where there is fundamental disagreement between reviewers, accepted manuscripts will be published alongside the reviewers’ comments to encourage debate. The reviewers may or may not decide to disclose their identity in these cases. Innovative tools for post-publication commenting, rating, and discussion will be available online in due course. Fast dissemination of priority issues is already delivered by early online publication through the Ingenta website.
This initial structure will be further improved with the contribution and suggestions from readers, authors and reviewers. For this purpose the PGH website will host a blog where comments can be posted. I do invite everybody to participate.